Economists Salary
The median economists salary in the United States is $124,720 per year ($59.96/hour). Salaries range from $67,360 at the entry level to $238,060+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 17,790 economists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$124,720
per year
Hourly Rate
$59.96
per hour
Employment
17,790
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$67,360
25th percentile
$89,330
Median
$124,720
75th percentile
$174,720
90th percentile
$238,060
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+1.2%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
900
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Master's degree
Economists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$71K$168K■ No data
Top Paying States
District of Columbia
$168K
+34%
New Jersey
$168K
+34%
Delaware
$159K
+28%
Maryland
$145K
+16%
Kansas
$139K
+11%
Virginia
$138K
+10%
New York
$137K
+10%
North Carolina
$136K
+9%
Idaho
$131K
+5%
Alabama
$130K
+4%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 | +34.4% |
| New Jersey | $167,550 | +34.3% |
| Delaware | $159,120 | +27.6% |
| Maryland | $144,680 | +16.0% |
| Kansas | $138,790 | +11.3% |
| Virginia | $137,590 | +10.3% |
| New York | $136,660 | +9.6% |
| North Carolina | $136,150 | +9.2% |
| Idaho | $131,270 | +5.3% |
| Alabama | $129,960 | +4.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 40
Economists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $176,090 | +41.2% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | +25.7% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $152,730 | +22.5% |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $152,130 | +22.0% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $151,510 | +21.5% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,400 | +14.2% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $139,530 | +11.9% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $138,260 | +10.9% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $136,990 | +9.8% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $132,630 | +6.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 63
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A economists earning $124,720/year would need 478 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 513 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how economists salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Economists salary trend (2011–2024) →